2007 Legislative Session Opens

OLYMPIA, Wash.- Monday was the first day of the 2007 state legislative session in Olympia, and now, elected officials are making their intentions known early on in the process.

The Governor and the Legislature both say education is the top priority for the 2007 session.

Also weighing heavily on legislator's minds this session, what to do with the state's huge budget surplus and whether to create a rainy day fund.

However, local educators say education is the biggest problem in the state, and the WASL needs to be fixed first.

They say lawmakers need to look at how the system could benefit if WASL money is used elsewhere.

"Look at all the money that's been spent over the last ten years on the WASL, and compare that to what it would have looked like to reduce class size by that amount. So that students have a better chance on one-to-one instruction from their teachers," said Jan Fraley with the Kennewick Education Association.

The legislature is also looking at a law that'll allow school levies to pass with only a simple majority, getting more money to districts.

Secretary of State Sam Reed has also asked them to change the primary ballots.